Obama: ‘This Is Not Just Another Election, This Is A Make or Break Moment for The Middle Class’

RICHMOND, VA — President Obama officially kicked off his reelection campaign today with a pair of rallies in two key battleground states–Ohio and Virginia. The theme for both events is “Ready To Go.” President Obama started off the afternoon at Ohio State University where he said his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, would allow conservstives with “bad ideas” like tax cuts for the rich and cuts for social programs to control the economy.

“Ohio, I tell you what, we cannot give him that chance… This is not just another election, this is a make or break moment for the middle class,” President Obama said.

President Obama was introduced by his wife, Michelle, who implicitly emphasized the difference between President Obama’s relatively modest background and Mr. Romney’s wealth.

“Barack knows what it means when a family struggles. That is what you need to know America is those are the experiences that have made him the man he is today,” Ms. Obama said. “All you have to guide you is your life experiences, your values. When you are making those impossible choices … it all boils down to who you are and what you stand for. … We all know what Barack Obama is. And who he is.”

President Obama is due here in Virginia in about 45 minutes. Watch a video of his Ohio speech here.